Bit for drilling well bores



March 18, 1941. l J, F; BQZEMAN 2,235,548

BIT FOR DRILLI'NG WELL BORES March-18, 1941. J, F BOZEMAN 2,235,548

BIT FOR DRILLING WELL BORES Filed April 1, 1940 s sheets-sheet g Z0 ZB.

J." may I laag, l.

March 18, 1941. .1. F. Bozx-:MAN

BIT FOBfDRILLING' WELL BORES 3 Sheets-Sheet 25 Filed April 1, 1940 Y '3mm 'Patented Mar. 18, 1941 UNTTED STATES BIT FOR DRILLING WELL BORES John F. Bozeman, Houston, Tex., assgnor of live per cent to B. C. Connell, iive and sixty-two and one-half one-hun Myers, seventeen thsk per cent and twenty-tive one-hunto Glen dredtlis per cent to C. W. Hotchkiss, Jr., and

twenty-nine and one hundred and twenty-five I l thonsandths per cent to W. T. Touchton, all of Houston, Tex., and live per cent to 'l'. C. Ward,

Pittsburgh, Pa.

Application April l, 1940, Serial No., 327,185

11 claims. (ci. s55- 7.1)

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in bits for drilling well bores.

It is one object of this invention to provide an improved bit wherein bearing means are disposed between the cutter disks and the axle, thereby facilitating the rotation of the disks and reducing the wear and frictional resistance incurred by the rotation of said disks.

Another object of this invention is to provide l0 an improved bit which is so constructed a's to al. loW the insertion of -the anti-friction elements during the process of assembling the bit, and having means for securely holding said elements in position within the bit, whereby the said elements will not become dislodged. y

A still further object of this invention is to provide an improved bit wherein the disks may be assembled with the bearing balls or anti-friction elements upon the axle and the assembly placed in the body of the bit as a unit, said unit .being welded or otherwise suitably fastened in position within the bit body. Y

A further object of the invention is to provide a drill bit having an improved watercourse member mounted m the bit body so as to direct tnedriuing fluid onto the disks and being formed as'a separate unit which may be removedv from the body of the bit and replaced as may be necessary. 0 Another object of the invention is to provide an improved bit having means disposed therein for lubricating the cutter disks, said lubricating means being so constructed and designed as to render it inoperative untilthe bit has been low- 5 ered into the well bore and has encountered the high temperatures usually present in such locations.`

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described, together with other 'features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of -the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings, in whichan example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

5 l 4 Figure 1 1s a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, of a drill bit constructed in accordance with the invention,

- Figure 2 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, taken at right angles to Figure 1, Figure 3 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of-Figlll'e 1,-

Figure 4 is a plan view ot the axle and bearing raceways as constructed in accordance with thefirst form of the invention,

Figure 5 is a transverse crosslsectionalvvie'w taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4,

Figure 6 is a view, partly in section-and partly in elevation, of the lower portion of a drill bit, and showing a modified form ofthe invention, 5

Figure 'I is a horizontal cross-sectional View taken on the line 1-1 of Figure 6, and showing. the lubricating means, y

Figure 8 is a plan view of the axle and ball 4bearing raceways as constructed in accordance 10 with the second form of the invention,

Figure 9 is a view in elevation, partly broken away so as to show the axle and bearing raceway construction of a third form of the invention,

Figure 10 is a horizontal cross-sectional view l5 taken on the line IIJ-IJI of Figure 9,

Figure 11 is a plan view of the bearing raceways used in the third form of the invention which is shown in Figure .9, and

Figure 12 is a transverse cross-sectional view 20 taken on the line I2I2 of Figure 1l. f

In the drawings, the numeral I0 designates an elongate cylindrical bit body having an internally screw-threaded box II formed in its upper portion. larged axial bore I2 extending downwardly from the box II and an axial counterbore I3 extending downwardly from-'the bottom thereof; an annular shoulder I4 thus being formed at the Junction of `said bores. The body has an off- 30 set shank Iii depending from one side of .said body, having its lower end reduced and provided with an internally screw-threaded opening I6 which extends transversely through said shank. Under the overhanging b'it body, the shank I5 is 35 curved at its upper end as shown at I1 in Figure 1. A cheek plate or hanger I8, having its inner face complementary to the adjacent side of the shank and its upper curved end, is fastened to the shank and body. The lower end of the cheek o plate is reduced and is provided with a screwthreaded opening I9, offset laterally with relation to the opening I6, as shown in Figure 6 of the drawings. The cheek plate I8 is fastened to theshank and body by means of welding, or by any other suitable means.

An axle 20, having laterally offset annular col. lars. 2l, is provided with -raceway grooves 22. Trunnions 23 extend coaxially from the collars. Theouter ends of the trunnions 23 carry screw 50 threads. 24 which. engage in the screw-threaded openings I6 and I9. Each of the raceway grooves 22 has a transverse recess 25 formed therein. The recesses 25 terminate short of the inside rim of each of the grooves, and are of suicient depth u The body I0 is provided with an en- 25,.

, 'I'he cheek plate or and width as to accommodate a bearing ball 23 which is'designed to ride or roll within the racewaygrooves. tailed cross-section for receiving dovetailed plugs 21. lEach plug has a snug sliding ilt in its recess, and its upper surface is formed contiguous with the surfaces of the collar and groove.

Cutter disks 28. having any desirable type of teeth or cutting edge 28 formed'upon their outer peripheries, are provided with central openings 38 so as to fit over the collars 2|.

have annular grooves 3| formed about their inner walls, said grooves abutting and being complementary to the grooves 22. When the cutter disks are in position upon the collars, the annular grooves 3| register with the grooves 22 ofthe collars 2| with the plug 21 removed from the 'I'he bearing balls 26 are then inrecess 25. serted through the recess into the annular space formed by the groove 22 and the groove 3| until the latter space is completely filled with the balls. 'Ihe plug 21 is then placed in the recess, and it will be noted that the plug will be held against all but outward movement by the inclined walls of said recess. The plug serves to hold the bearing balls within the groove 22 and in engagement with the annular groove 3| provided upon the cutter disk 28. At this stage of assembly, the trunnion 23 is screwed into the screw-threaded opening I6 provided in the shank I5 until the collar 2| substantially abuts the inner wall of said shank and the two collars have their centers alined in a vertical plane. As is shown in Figure 1, when the axle has been screwed into this position,1 the shank I5 will hold the plug 21 against outward movement, -thereby preventing the plug from becoming dislodged and allowing the bearing balls 26 to come out of the grooves Also the other collar 2| and trunnion 23vare displaced downwardly from the nrst collar so as to allow the cheek plate I8 to be placed thereupon.

The next step in the assembling operation is the positioning of the other cutter disk 28 upon the other collar 2|. Thebearing balls 28 are inserted in the same manner as before, and the cheek plate I8 is threaded upon the trunnion 23.

trunnion to the proper position, wherein its upper end is directly below the overhangingy portion of the body I0. At this point the other trunnion is screwed further into the opening I8 until the two trunnions are alined in the same horizontal plane. This action raises the upper end of the cheek plate `I8 into engagement with the upper curved end of the shank I5, and the entire bit is in the position desired. Next the joint between the cheek plate and the body l0 is welded, or otherwise suitably fastened, so plate becomes an integral portion of said body. It will be noted, that the plug 21 is held by the cheek plate s o that the bearing balls 28 are held between the collar 2| Aand the cutter disk 28. In this manner, the bearingY balls on both of the cutter disks are secured in position quickly and easily, and are prevented from becomingI dis- The recesses are given a dove' The openings 30 hanger is screwed onto the that the cheek f lodged or from sition. If it ever becomes desirable or necessary to dismantle the bit, the cheek plate may be cut loose Iby a welding torch, .or any other suitable means, and the bit dissembled in much the same manner as it was assembled.

A cylindrical insert or core 32, having an annular ange 33 formed on its upper extremity, is positioned within the counterbore I3 so that the flange 33 engages the shoulder I 4 formed between the lbore I2 and the counterbore I3. If desired,

a suitable packing ring 34 may be positioned lne-1 low the ilange and above the shoulder I4 so as to pack off around the outer wall of the core 32. A plurality of longitudinal water passages or courses 35 extend throughout the length of the core and communicate between the box II and the bore I2, and the space above the cutter disks 28. Drilling fluids may be pumped down the bore of the tubing (not shown) to enter into the longitudinal water passages 35 and discharge onto the upper portion of the cutter disks and in the spaces between the latter. A recess 38 is provided in the wall of the core 32 and is adapted t0 be alined with a screw-threaded opening 31 provided in the sidewall of the body I0, whereby a screw-threaded set screw 38 may be screwed onto the opening E? that the inner end of said set screw will engage inthe recess 3S, and thereby hold the core 32 securely in position within the counterbore I3. Also a plurality of lugs or reamers 38 are provided upon the outer wall of the body I8 so as to team and clean up the well bore as the drill bit passes therethrough.

A modified form of the invention is shown in raceway groove formed upon the collar 4I. Thusthe raceway grooves 4I are split along their transverse axes as is shown in Figures 6, 7, and 8, so that one half of each of the raceway grooves is provided as a bearing core 42. 'I'his form of getting out of their normal pothe invention is assembled in much the same manner as the first form, in that one of the cutter disks 28 is placed upon one of the collars 40, and the bearing balls 28 placed in position about the raceway groove 4|. The core 42 is then placed over the trunnion 23 into engagement with the bearing'balls and the collar 40. The axle v2|) is then threaded into the screw-threaded opening I6 and the operation of assembling the bit carried out the same way as with the rst form of the invention,

In Figures 9, 10, 11, and 12, a third` form or modification of the invention is shown. In this form, the cheek plate I8 is formed integral with the body I0 'in the same manner as the shank I5. However, the screw-threaded openings I6 and I9 are replaced.with tapered or outwardly ared openings 43. Diametrically opposed female splines 44 are formed in the wall of each of the openings, the splines in `the two openings 43'being in horizontal alinement with each other. A cylindrical shaft `45, provided with diametrically opposed male splines 46, is adapted to engage Within they openings 43 with the splines 46 engaging the splines 44, whereby the shaft 45 is securely held against rotation within said openings. A raceway member 41, provided with a pair of onset collars 4l having annular grooves 49 formed therein, has a central transverse opening 58, so as to receive the shaft 45. Female splines 5I, similar to the splines 44, are formed in the wall of the opening 58, so as to receive the male splines 45 formed upon the shaft 45. Circularradial openings 52 are provided in the collars 48, and extend from the grooves 48 to the opening 50. Plugs 53 are adapted to fit within the openings 52, and have their upper ends formed soias to conform to the shape of the grooves 49 and the collars 48. l i

In assembling the bit as disclosed in this invention, the cutter disks 28 are positioned upon the collars 48, and the bearing balls 28 are placed between the cutter disks and the collars by placing them in the openings 52 and allowing them to enter into the space betwen the disks and the collars. When the proper number of balls have been' placed betwen thedisks and collars, the openings 52 are closed by means of the plugs 53 and the assembly is placed between the shank I5 cutter disks are secured within the bit in such a` and the cheek plate I8. While the assembly is in this position, the shaft is passed through the openings 43 so as to extend through the opening and both of the openings 43, while the splines 48 engage the splines 44 and the splines 5I, thereby securing the raceway member 41 between the shank I5 and the cheek plate I8 within the bit and holding the raceway member against rotation. vWhile the assembly is in this position, the space between the shaft 45 and the flared walls ofthe openings 43 may be welded, or otherwise suitably lled, so as to secure the shaft to the shank and the cheek plate. In this manner, the

fashion as to prevent their coming loose or becoming out of alinement. If desired, suitable pins 54 may be passed through openings 55 provided in the shank I5 and the cheek plate I8, so

as to engage in recesses 58 provided in each side of the raceway member 41. The engagement of the pins 54 with the recesses 58 and the openings 55 further serves to hold the raceway member 41 against rotation within the bit body Ill. As will be noted, the plugs 53 are securely held in position by the shaft 45 which abuts their lower 'extremities and prevent their becoming dislodged.

Both the second and the third modified forms of the invention employ the watercourse insert or core 32 and the reamers 39 similar to those disclosed in the description of the firstform .of the invention. All three forms ol the invention provide simple and elcient means of placing bearing balls in the space between the'cutter disks and the axleA of a disk drill bit.

In Figure '7, there is shown a structure for pro viding lubrication for the raceway grooves and the bearing balls. An axial bore 51 is provided-in each of the trunnions 23, and a piston plunger 58 has a sliding fit therein. Each piston'plunger 58 is provided with an axial stem 58. A screw plug 60 closes the outer end of each of the bores 51,

and a compression spring 5I is confined upon each of the stems 59 between the plunger 58 and the plug 60. Itis pointed out, that the engagement of the stem 59 with the plug 80 limits the outward travel 'of each of the plungers 58. A restricted passage 62 extends from the inner end of each of the bores 51 to the groove formed in each of the collars 2|. A suitable high viscosity lubricant may be placed in each of the bores 51 and held therein by the piston plungers 58 which are actedv upon by the compression springs. As the drill bit is lowered into support thereon,

the well bore, the increased lIt is pointed out, that the vstructure and methods of assembly disclosed herein may be used in many other instances besides the particular instance disclosed.

Variouschanges, alterations, and modifications may be made in the size, shape, and arrangement of the herein described elements, within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A drill bit including, a. body having a cutter support thereon, a hanger secured to the body, an axle disposed transversely between and carried by the cutter` support and the hanger, annular bearing members carried by the axle, cutter ldisks mounted on -said members, bearing balls interposed between -said members and disks, and means for inserting said balls between the members and disks after the disks have been mounted on said members.

2. A drill bit including, a body having a cutter a cheek plate secured to the body, an axle disposed transversely between and carried by the cutter support and the cheek plate,

.annular bearing members carried by the axle in laterally oilset relation to each other, cutter disks means for inserting said balls between the meme bers and disks after the disks have been mounted on `said members.

3` A drill bit including, a body having a cutter support theron, a cheek plate secured to the body,

an axle disposedtransversely between and carried by the cutter support and the cheek plate,

grooved collars carried by the axle in laterally offset relation to each other, cutter disks mounted on said collars, saidv cutter disks being provided with internal grooves, bearing balls interpsed between said collars and disks in the grooves formed in said collars and disks, and means for inserting vsaid balls between the collars and disks after the disks have been mounted on said collars.

4. A drill bit including, a body having a cutter support thereon, a hanger secured to the body, an axle disposed transversely between and carried by the cutter support and the hanger, annular bearing members carried by the axle in laterally offset relation to each other, said axle having lubricant storage cavities and ducts leading therefrom to the bearing members, cutter disks mounted on said members, bearing balls interposed between said members and disks, and means for inserting said balls between the members and disks after the disks have been' mounted on said members.

5. .A drill bit including, a body having a cutter support thereon, a cheek plate secured to the body, an axle disposed transverselybetween and carried by the cutter support and the cheek plate, grooved collars carried by the axle in laterally offset relation to each other, said axle having lubricant storage cavities and ducts leading therefroml to the bearing members, cutter disks mounted on said members, said cutter disks being provided with internal grooves, bearing balls interposed between said collars and disks in the grooves formed in said collars and disks, and means for inserting said balls between the collars and disks after the disks have been mounted lo lon said collars.

disks mounted on said members, bearing balls interposed between said members and disks, and means for inserting said balls between the ymembers and disks after the disks have been mounted on said members.

7. A drill bit including, a bit body having spaced cutter supports at its lower end, an axle carried by said supports and extendirigthere-` between, cutter disks journaled on said axles, bearing balls supporting said disks, said axle having an opening for inserting the balls whereby said balls retain the disks in posi-tion on said axle, and closures for said openings confined by the cutter supports.

8. A drill bit including, a bit body having spaced cutter supports at its lower end, an axle carried by said supports and extending therebetween, said axle having lubricant storage cavities and ducts leading therefrom to the bearing surfaces of the axle, cutter disks Journaled on said axles, bearing balls supporting said disks, said axle having an opening for inserting the balls whereby said balls retain the disks in position on said axle, and closures for said open# ings conilned by the cutter supports.

9. As a subcomblnation in a drill bit. an axle having laterally oiset bearing collars thereon .provided with ball raceways, and ball inserting recesses extending transversely thereof.

10. As a subcombination in a drill bit, an axle having offset bearing collars thereon provided with portions oi' ball raceways for coacting with bearing cones.

1l. A drill bit including,` abody having a shank thereon, said shank having its lower end reduced so as to form a cutter support, a cheek plate secured to the` body and having its lower end reduced. and spaced from the cutter support, an axle disposed transversely between and carried by the cutter support and the cheek plate, annular bearing members carried by the axle in laterally olset relation to each other, said axle having lubricant storage cavities and ducts leading therefrom to the bearing members, cutter disks mounted on said membersVbearing balls interposed between said members and disks, and

means for inserting said balls between the mem-` bers and disks after the disks have been mounted on said members.

JOHN F. BOZEMAN. 

